Coolant Loss

[BongoCaterham]

I seem to be losing Coolant. - A lot seemed to have blown back on to the engine etc, as well as all up the back of the radiator (not sure if some on the radiator is caused by air flow?).

I cleaned it up, topped up the coolant and the levels seems to have dropped back to min again, but this time it doesn't seem to have blown back everywhere!

I can't see any obvious leak, and have tightened the hoses etc. I'm wondering if it could be between the top or bottom of the radiator and plastic casing that is at the top/bottom of the radiator.

Anyone had this problem, or any idea where I should start looking?

Oh and not overheating, runs at 80, if stopped in traffic then seems to get up to about 95 and the fans kick in.

[michaeljclark]

Mine leaked from both the top and bottom of the rad where the metal meets the plastic. There are many on BlatChat who have suffered the same "issue" of a failed Rad.

Rather than much about, I replaced it with an all Ally R400 Road Radiator.

No coolant loss since.

Mike

[huwp]

BongoCaterham said:

I seem to be losing Coolant. - A lot seemed to have blown back on to the engine etc, as well as all up the back of the radiator (not sure if some on the radiator is caused by air flow?).

I cleaned it up, topped up the coolant and the levels seems to have dropped back to min again, but this time it doesn't seem to have blown back everywhere!

I can't see any obvious leak, and have tightened the hoses etc. I'm wondering if it could be between the top or bottom of the radiator and plastic casing that is at the top/bottom of the radiator.

Anyone had this problem, or any idea where I should start looking?

Oh and not overheating, runs at 80, if stopped in traffic then seems to get up to about 95 and the fans kick in.

I have also had the problem Mike describes. I have had 3 radiators on my Sigma.

[BongoCaterham]

Hi huwp - have you replaced your radiator with the standard one each time? Looking on Blatchat, looks like the option is to go for the all ally one, or a radtec one?? Any advantages/disadvantages of each?

[anonymous-user]

Just adding the Crossflow experience....
Mine leaked from a crack around the top brass bung on the rad. The brazing had cracked, and this only showed up when the car got hot, really hot. Apparently a good way to check is to get the car running then very gently tighten the top bung a bit to ease the crack open further, to prove it's that which has failed.
Also replaced the water pump a couple of weeks ago where that was starting to fail internally, the tell tale sign being coolant drying on the underside of the pump.
The drop in coolant after topping up is pretty normal as air locks get blown around and out of the system.

[Matt W]

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be the cap on the expansion tank that wasn't sealing properly. I put a new cap on it and the problem went away.

[BongoCaterham]

Crossflow Kid said:

Just adding the Crossflow experience....
Mine leaked from a crack around the top brass bung on the rad. The brazing had cracked, and this only showed up when the car got hot, really hot. Apparently a good way to check is to get the car running then very gently tighten the top bung a bit to ease the crack open further, to prove it's that which has failed.
Also replaced the water pump a couple of weeks ago where that was starting to fail internally, the tell tale sign being coolant drying on the underside of the pump.
The drop in coolant after topping up is pretty normal as air locks get blown around and out of the system.

So worth topping up again and seeing if it still drops?

[anonymous-user]

BongoCaterham said:

So worth topping up again and seeing if it still drops?

I'd say so. Usually takes two or three top ups to completely purge mine. It's a bit of a judgement call as to when you think "Blimey, this is still giving up a lot of air" and decide it's actually still leaking somewhere.

[huwp]

BongoCaterham said:

Hi huwp - have you replaced your radiator with the standard one each time? Looking on Blatchat, looks like the option is to go for the all ally one, or a radtec one?? Any advantages/disadvantages of each?

They were all replaced under warranty or as a goodwill gesture by CC. If it were to go again I would replace with an all ali alternative and most likely a Radtec.